Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Scuttled illegal immigrant housing site in Virginia accuses HHS, neighbors of discrimination
Community outrage forced the federal government to nix its plans to house illegal immigrant children at a defunct college in rural Virginia, but the school fought back this month with discrimination complaints accusing both the Obama administration and its own neighbors of bigotry. Published September 28, 2014
Contempt of Congress case against Holder will proceed
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced Thursday he is resigning as soon as a replacement is found, though he and the Justice Department still face contempt of Congress charges that will linger well after he officially gives up the office. Published September 25, 2014
U.S. immigration from southeast Asia, Middle East skyrockets
Immigration from southeast Asia and the Middle East has skyrocketed in the last few years, according to a report released Thursday that found the overall immigrant population has hit a record 41.3 million. Published September 25, 2014
Sanctuary 2014 church network helping illegal immigrants avoid deportation
A network of two dozen churches has promised to offer "physical sanctuary" to illegal immigrants facing deportation, saying they want to create a safe haven that federal officials won't invade as a way of preventing the migrants from being kicked out of the country. Published September 24, 2014
Obama administration approves overpayments to GM, Ally Financial execs: audit
The Obama administration approved "excessive" pay for top executives at General Motors Co. and Ally Financial Inc. even as the two companies were falling behind on repaying taxpayers for being rescued after the Wall Street collapse, the bailout watchdog concluded in a report released Wednesday. Published September 24, 2014
Obama use of Sept. 11 authority for Syria airstrikes questioned
With nearly two dozen attacks in Syria against both the Islamic State and the Khorasan Group, an al Qaeda offshoot that the administration said posed an immediate threat to the U.S., President Obama this week opened a new front in the war on terror that he said was winding down just a year ago. Published September 23, 2014
Sylvia Burwell touts Obamacare enrollment numbers
After nearly a year of full operation under its belt Obamacare is a growing success, and next year will be even better with 77 new insurers preparing to offer plans on the new insurance markets, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell said Tuesday. Published September 23, 2014
Obama given green light to battle ISIS in renewed war on terrorism
Congress gave final permission Thursday for the Pentagon to train and arm Syrian rebels, approving part of President Obama's war plans before fleeing Washington for a two-month break, leaving the White House free rein to fight a war against the Islamic State on its own terms. Published September 18, 2014
French to join U.S. coalition in Iraq
France will join the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State by helping the U.S. conduct airstrikes in Iraq, President Obama said Thursday night as he basked in a successful vote in Congress giving him permission to arm and train Syrian rebels. Published September 18, 2014
Senate falls short in bid to halt Obama immigration policies
Senate Republicans narrowly missed a chance Thursday to halt President Obama's non-deportation policies, falling just short in a vote that saw even five Democrats join them in signaling worries over the White House's immigration plans. Published September 18, 2014
ISIS could use ‘loose’ immigration system to enter U.S.: Immigration officer
Islamic State militants could come to the U.S. through the front door, using America's "loose and lax" legal immigration system to gain a foothold here, the president of the union that represents immigration case officers said Thursday in a scathing letter. Published September 18, 2014
John Kerry takes go-slow approach on revoking passports
While he has the power to revoke passports of those traveling to fight in Syria, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Thursday he wants to be careful in using that authority so he doesn't disrupt any ongoing criminal investigations. Published September 18, 2014
Former commander says nixing U.S. ground troops damages international coalition
Taking ground combat troops off the table in the fight against the Islamic State could be hurting President Obama's efforts to build an international coalition because it leaves questions about the U.S. commitment, the former commander who oversaw military efforts in the Middle East said Thursday. Published September 18, 2014
House approves Obama plan to arm, train Syrian rebels to fight ISIS
The House voted Wednesday to approve President Obama's request to open a new front in the war on terrorism, granting him permission to train and arm some Syrian rebels in the hope that they will fight Islamic State militants advancing in Syria and Iraq. Published September 17, 2014
House approves first part of Obama war plan to train Syrian rebels
The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to back President Obama's request for permission to train and money to arm the more reliable forces among Syrian rebels, giving the first congressional approval to the White House's still-developing war plans. Published September 17, 2014
House approves Ron Paul’s ‘Audit the Fed’ bill
Former Rep. Ron Paul's push to audit the Federal Reserve got another boost Wednesday when the House passed the bill for the second time in three years, and by a bigger margin than before. Published September 17, 2014
Sensenbrenner: Time to dissolve ATF
A top Republican House member on Wednesday proposed eliminating the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, writing a bill that would freeze all hiring at the troubled agency and require the Justice Department to come up with a plan for transferring its duties to other agencies. Published September 17, 2014
DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson opposes White House on Libya visas
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson will not lift the ban that keeps Libyans from coming to study aviation or nuclear sciences in the U.S., he told Congress on Wednesday, pushing back against an initiative supported by the State Department and the White House. Published September 17, 2014
ISIS-al Qaeda competition could prompt strikes against Americans: Intelligence officials
The world is seeing "an emerging competition" for terrorist supremacy between the Islamic State and core al Qaeda groups, which could leave the U.S. in even more danger as their top target, top Americans homeland security and intelligence officials said Wednesday. Published September 17, 2014
Pentagon open to U.S. ground troops in fight against Islamic State
The Pentagon's top general opened the door Tuesday to the possibility that U.S. combat troops would be needed in Iraq, as he publicly laid out President Obama's still-developing plans to combat Islamic State insurgents through U.S. air power and relying on an as-yet-unformed coalition of Muslim and Arab allies. Published September 16, 2014
